With The Banshees of Inisherin won at the Oscars and BAFTAs The nominations, the buzz of awards season, saw production banner Blueprint Pictures unveil its next planned A-list project, Girl from the North Country.
Tony, based on the music of Bob Dylan and written and directed by his playwright Conor McPherson Based on the award-winning series, the feature will star Olivia Colman, Woody Harrelson(reuniting him with Blueprint Three Billboards Ebbing, Missouri) plus Grammy nominated singer/songwriter/musician Chloe Bailey (Chlöe Bailey) (appearing in Black-ish and Jane) ), and rising British actor Tossinger (Till, House Party). Blueprint Pictures’ Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin are executive producers. CAA Media Finance will represent the film’s domestic sales, while Rocket Science will launch international sales at the upcoming European Film Market.
Residing in Duluth, Minnesota during the Great Depression 1934, Girl from the North Country has been described as a “love story amidst adversity”, following a group of wayward travelers in a hotel full of music, life and hope. Things are spiraling out of control for owner Nick Lean (Harrelson). His wife Elizabeth (Coleman) suffers from dementia. Banks are foreclosing on their home. Their adopted daughter, Marianne (Bailey), has a closely guarded secret that no one can explain. But when a fugitive, Joe Scott (Cole), seeks refuge at a hotel, a relationship develops between Marianne and Joe that changes everything for everyone forever.
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called the Broadway play a retelling of Dylan’s legendary songs, including “Forever Young”, “Everything on the Watchtower”, “Hurricane”, “Here Comes the Slow Train”, “Make You Feel My Love” and “Like A Rolling Stone” – “Brilliantly conceived” and “dramatically well acted”.
New York Times called it “stunningly beautiful”, Chicago Tribune The newspaper called it a “Broadway revelation”!.”
After watching the show, Dylan commented on McPherson: “Working with Conor One of the highlights of my career. Needless to say, the man was a genius at putting this thing together, and I’m so excited to be a part of it. My songs could not have been in better hands. This show made me cry at the end. I can’t even say why. When the curtain fell, I was stunned. I really am.
Five-time Tony nominee McPherson added: “Having Bob Dylan’s trust to write a story out of his incomparable songs has been a tremendous honor, and it gives Minecraft brings joy. But working with this incredible cast and bringing these characters to life is almost beyond imagination. I’m also especially excited to be working with Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and the entire Blueprint team, They’ve brought moviegoers some of the greatest films of recent memory.”
Bailey by CAA. Cole is represented by CAA, Curtis Brown Group, Sherpa Management and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Coleman is represented by CAA, United Agents and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Harrison is represented by 7 Deuce Entertainment and Ziffren Brittenham. McPherson is represented by the Curtis Brown Group.
